If water is uncontrolled or approaching electrical equipment, prioritise safety and call a plumber. The guidance below is general and does not replace an inspection.

Understanding the issue

A stiff handle may involve scale, a worn cartridge or damaged internal parts. Forcing it can break the handle or make the leak worse. A repair assessment should consider the tap model and availability of compatible parts.

Before arranging the visit

Share the make and a safe photograph of the tap before ordering replacements.

Choosing the appropriate plumbing visit

We check the visible fault, isolation, pipe condition and access before agreeing the repair scope. Our taps & mixers page explains the related work and how an assessment is arranged.

Where the findings point to basin mixer tap installation, read the basin mixer tap installation service details before discussing the repair scope. The actual fitting and access determine the work needed.

Information worth keeping

Record when the issue occurs, the affected room and any previous repair. For a property in our home area, plumbing in West Bridgford explains the local enquiry route; check the coverage directory for another postcode.

Connected questions

For a related question about taps & mixers, the guide Why a Tap Still Drips After You Tighten It explains what to record next.

For a related question about taps & mixers, the guide Why a tap leaks around its base explains what to record next.